Colorado football: Could Tyler McCulloch lose his job?

One of the best parts of training camp and the spring game is watching players duke it out for the starting nod on opening night. It’s a chance for coaches to evaluate their players, get to know their team, and most importantly, it’s a chance for deserving players to show their worth. Consider Colorado football. The Buffaloes currently have 14 wide receivers on their roster. These 14 will battle throughout the spring and fall camps to earn a spot in one of the three starting slots.

As it stands now, the starting three against Colorado State should be junior Nelson Spruce, senior D.D. Goodson, and fellow senior Tyler McCulloch. Count on Spruce and Goodson to remain reliable targets all year. However, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if Bryce Bobo, a redshirt freshman from a year ago, steals McCulloch’s job.

McCulloch stands a chance of losing his job to Bryce Bobo, a standout redshirt freshman.

That’s not to say that McCulloch isn’t capable of keeping his spot. He’s a highly talented wideout, who adds much needed height to a fairly undersized group of receivers. Though, it’s important to note that he has struggled with injuries throughout his football career. Up to this point in college, he has been hampered by foot problems. He missed time last year and missed the spring game this year because of these issues.

A drop in production may also mean a drop in the depth chart for McCulloch. He only caught one touchdown pass all of last season and failed to record a catch in half the games he played. With the emergence of Bobo, McCulloch’s time may be drastically limited.

On the other hand, Bobo has been nothing short of impressive through camp and the spring game. He turned heads with a 67-yard touchdown catch in the intra-squad game. The play was the epitome of what he brings to the table. He got behind the secondary and narrowly avoided a shoestring tackle, before walking into the endzone. He also helped set up the eventual game-winning score with a 43-yard grab. The wideout finished the day with five catches for 132 yards and a score.

Check out the touchdown below:

At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, he is big enough to match up in man-to-man coverage, but also shows the explosiveness of a smaller slot receiver. He has the speed to get off the ball quickly and get separation from the corners. He possesses tremendous athletic ability and could quickly rise in the rankings if he plays up to his potential.

In 2013, McCulloch recorded 14 catches, for 133 yards and a touchdown. Not exactly eye-popping numbers, considering that Bobo had nine fewer catches, one less yard, and the same amount of touchdowns in one scrimmage this spring. He recorded 56 receptions and 10 touchdowns during his senior year in high school.

It looks as though Bobo is ready to have a breakout season in 2014. If he plays how he’s capable of playing, he could start cutting into McCulloch’s targets in a hurry. For now, it remains undecided who will see the start for the season opener, but don’t be surprised if there is plenty more “Bobo Mojo” in the near future.

About Taylor House

Psychology and Sociology Major at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Correspondent at Isportsweb.com for the Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado Avalanche. Very passionate about my hometown Colorado and Denver area teams. You can follow me on Twitter @Tay_Casa

Featured Writer

Born and raised in Southern New Jersey, I follow the NHL and other hockey leagues. I follow the Philadelphia Flyers as well as the St. Louis Blues. I go to American University in Washington DC. I major in International Studies and Russian Language, and I also play Division 3 Club ice hockey. Writing about current NHL topics since 2015.
You can find Jared on Twitter @Wainer78